Brady Severns - 12:01am Feb 9, 2002 PST (#77 of 77)

Tonight our group played a 6-player Historical setup game using Standard
Rules. Because I arrived late to the game, I played Japan. Kevin Dunn,
the most experienced player at our table, drew France. Eric, Chris, and
Bill, all new players, drew Russia, Britain, and Austria-Hungary/Europe.
Tim, a player who had played on a couple occasions, drew Germany. The
game started at 8 p.m. with a finishing time of 11 p.m.

At our table, we incorporate some house rules that have worked well for
us so far:

1. The game starts with a production phase for all players in the
historical setup scenarios. Players starting the game with a country
whose total PP score is under 30 have a base of 30 throughout the game
until they can raise their score. This allows the opportunity to build a
factory or new city to generate income and introduce new units. Japan
and Russia, while still weak, at least get off the starting blocks.

2. Japan ignores the 1 turn grace period when declaring war. They may
attack immediately on the turn they declare war on another player.

3. Resource chits may developed for 3x their value rather than the
standard 30 for all chits. Valueless chits may not be developed.

Everyone had played two turns and were entering the production phase
when I arrived. Everyone expanded along predictable lines with Russias
taking the Far East provinces and the usual Western European noodling in
Africa. Britain started scarfing additional territory around India. I
was told to quickly perform my pre-game production phase and first two
turns: I built 3 explorers and landed them in China (a hard nut 12),
Korea (4 with 6pp resource marker), and Manchuria(7). Korea and
Manchuria came to Japan's banner. For my second production phase I
developed Korea and took another explorer!?!

The next two turns saw Britain take an early lead (not unusual). Russia
and I agreed to take him down a peg if he was still ahead at the end of
the next production cycle. I picked up Thailand and discovered another
6pp marker. I moved my ship to the west side of Thailand and awaited
developments. Russia had a large army and stationed it in the Urals.
Thanks to the rail pieces, this kept her forces within striking distance
of any point in her empire. Britain developed her regions and built up
her navy. Britain and Austria built small forces and developed new
holdings. Britain even took the 12 piece in China through Diplomacy!
Germany loaded a boat with explorers and went looking for new allies and
territory.

On the next phase, Britain was still ahead and I had my meager forces
forward. I moved my ship to the west coast of Thailand. Defensive
against encroachment by Britain yet within striking distance of the
dwindling prizes in Africa. I developed the 6pp chit Annam and added an
infantryman. Players joked I should be developing more quickly-- but
there was a danger to that from my perspective: building structures
merely seemed to fatten me, since my army was too small to fight.
Building forces would make me look overly aggressive, I had no
infrastructure to defend and Britain and Russia both had prize
territory. The key was to look like too much trouble to attack for not
enough gain. The the slow development...

More expansion and positioning by the other powers. I'm low on the PP
totem at 32. Everyone else is past 50 and a couple approach 100.
However, France emerges as the new leader. However, Britain is still
high on the list and CHina is weakly held. Asking before striking,
Britain agrees to accede China in exchange for non-agression for three
turns. I agree. The next turn I ask France about their interests in
Annam. France has trouble brewing in the West and Annam is her sole
possession in Asia: "It's yours. But I make ask for a favor."

Builds: I build a ship in the Sea of Japan. Low key for now, important
strategically for the present and the future. With two ships, I now have
the capability to lift my (small) forces to any point in the Pacific!

So, without loss, Japan enters the 7th turn with Southeast Asia, China,
Manchuria, and Korea under her belt. Enough mixed units sit astride
China as to make taking any neighboring province held by Japan a risky
venture. During the next two turns, I take my west coast Thailand ship
and with my last diplomat pick up Arabia (9) and Madasgascar (9 with a
8pp resource) on some lucky rolls. The isolated positions, scarcity of
enemy forces, and high native factor didn't arouse much more interest
than "you can have it... for now." Actaully, they would now be easy to
snatch, but as the trailing player, no one would gain anything of
immediate value until I placed ports or cities on them.

The next production phase I build a pair of engineers. Britain and
France surge over 100 pps. Britain begins the development of Australia
as a third base in case of a European or Asian war. Russia is a
powerhouse with 95 and creates a huge army. Austria matches her with 97.
Germany is comparatively low with 79 but builds troops in response. I'm
still at 32. Everyones force's are where they wish to be, but Britain is
overdeveloped for the size of her forces. France rattles sabers at
Britain, who soon takes Germany as an ally.

On turn 10, I positionmy fleets in the South China Sea. Russia moves
before Britain and stands pat. France and the other powers jockey. On
turn 11, the storm breaks, Russia declares war on Britain and invades
Kashmir! France declcares war on her turn and runs her 2 Mediterranean
ships into the Black Sea with Austria's permission (AH controls the
Bosporus/Dardenelles) Austria begins moving on British possesions in
Africa. Germany moves to block Russian aggression and takes Lithuania
and the Ukraine. As the last player, I rush a 1 Cav, 1 Arty, and 1
infantry to the the Northern Territory! After booting the lone
infantryman, I take a city with 6pp resource marker as a prize,
rendering the train in the Southern Territory mute. My

My last builds for the game 4 infantry and a Cavalryman. 1 Cav and an
infantryman are built in the Australian city. The remaining infantry
assist the 2 Inf and 1 Cav piece in China.

Britains world crumbles on turns 11 and 12, but not without a fight:
several African colonies are attacked but a couple resist the
aggressors, mostly Austrians. Russia moves the mass of her Army to
Moscow and attacks India directly with the remaining thirs. Germany
bounces off Moscow on her first turn but snatches AustraHungary on her
second! Frances builds a massive fleet with her money and takes the
North Sea on T11. On T12 she takes the British Isles. Luckily I move
last. On turn 11, I take Western Australia. On turn 12, as the last
player, I do the end-of-game gambit and try for Southern Territory
(bounced), Buryat with a factory and 8 resource marker (taken) and
Kazakhstan with a city and 8 resource marker (also taken).

Applying the Standard rules formula for winning, Austria-Hungary won
with 218 points, thanks mainly to her African and unmolested Pacific
holdings. France and Russia finish a tight second and third with 197 and
196 respectively. Japan finishes respectable fourth with 172. Britain
and Germany nearly tie for last with 118 and 117 respectively.

A couple bystanders wondered what the ranks would be if the victory
point value of the starting positions were subtracted from the final
scores.

The result: Britain finishes last with 0. Russia is 5th with 44. Germany
is 4th with 60. Austria comes in 3rd with 93. France closes in 2nd with
111. But tiny Japan, with holdings across asia and toeholds in the
Middle East, Africa, and Australia comes in 1st with 144!

Of course, the explosion in Japans position came with the last 2-3 turns
of the game. And admittedly through treachery. An overwhelming alliance
had formed against Britain, who wasn't even in first, and only Germany
had any reason to take her side. My invlovement in the alliance was
originally as a balancing to Britains eastern power, but when the event
occurred, it was clearly a well-timed and purely opportunistic grab at
Australia. On the last possible play of the last turn, Japan had to turn
on her neighbor and whole-game ally, Russia, for the final grab at two
provinces, which swung the pendulum away from Russia and towards Japan
by 51(!) points. Of course, were it not for the chaotic end-game
do-or-die assault, Japan's score would not be so hight. SHe could not
afford to turn on her allies and hope to live. Russia was in a very
strong position to throw out anyone who came over her borders. The only
thing that allowed Japan her quick victories were coming last in the
random turn order for two straight turns.

Overall, our table had a great time. Three new players walked away with
favorable impressions of the game. And several onlookers were drawn in
by the twists of fate at the end and the resulting battles that produced
some unexpected results.

So far, almost all of our games have been like that: hard contests that
begin with careful build strategies and end with a clash of the titans!

Brady